TLC hosts teach-in

Members of the Tufts Labor Coalition (TLC) hosted a teach-in session last night to a full audience in Alumnae Lounge, providing attendees with information on potential janitorial layoffs on the university's three campuses.

According to TLC member Anissa Waterhouse, a first-year, the event's purpose was to explain what is happening, to discuss why it is problematic and to emphasize how it could affect students and the greater Tufts campus.

"We’re here tonight to mobilize student support," she said.

TLC President Lior Appel-Kraut, a sophomore, said a number of sources have indicated that there is a good chance that the university will cut janitors' jobs. She noted that Tufts janitors are already working a lot and the proposed cuts will increase workloads.

"What we’re hearing is that there is already overwork happening," she said.

Appel-Kraut added that the university could save money in ways other than cutting these jobs, and explained that TLC has had trouble contacting Linda Snyder, vice president of operations.

"They’re trying to cut corners and cut costs in unacceptable ways," she said. "We think that this is skimping on basic services for the other members of the Tufts community."

Three janitors from both the Medford/Somerville campus and Boston campus came to speak to the audience through student translators. They underscored the fear of increased workloads and dirtier facilities, thanking the students who attended for their support.

Andrew Klatt, part-time lecturer in the Department of Romance Languages, spoke about collaboration between part-time faculty and janitors, noting that the proposed cuts are an "attack on peoples' ability to make a living."

"We have recently organized a union and negotiated a contract, and this was something that took a lot of work and took some struggle, and we received a lot of support from a lot of different quarters," he said, citing support from Tufts Community Union Senate, TLC and janitors.

He said that Tufts has taken advantage of both part-time faculty as well as janitors.

"We fought back, we pushed back, we got a contract," Klatt said. "The janitors have a history of doing. They supported us, we're all going to support them."

Junior Cooper McKim underscored the importance of putting pressure on the administration

"It is a blatant disregard for the livelihood of members of our community," he said.

McKim noted that the best case scenario would be that the administration cracks under the pressure and retracts their proposed policy. TLC can also help to encourage job relocation if janitors are laid-off, he added.